Physical therapy treatment table



Oct. 6, 1959 Filed May 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

FRANK C. CATANZARO ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1959 F. c. CATANZARO PHYSICALTHERAPY TREATMENT TABLE Fil'edMay 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 QUE QUE

INVHVTOR.

FRANK C. CATANZARO "@1 4 m ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1959 Filed May 8. 1957 F. c.CATANZARO 2,907,324

PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS mmvrox FRANK C.CANTANZARO ByQww (1J4 ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 2,907,324PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT TABLE Frank C. Catanzaro, St. Louis, Mo.,assignor to Cansi Electronics, Incorporated, SflLonis, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Application May 8, 1957, Serial No. 657,795

3 Claims. (Cl. 128'-71) This invention relates in general to physicaltherapy and, more particularly, to certain improvements in treatmenttables for use therefor.

With the ever increasing advancements made in the field of medicine itis generally recognized that many of the diseases and discomforts whichafilict the human body result from derangement of bodily mechanisms suchas bones, blood vessels, connecting tissue, and the like; that is,expecially, wherein the reduced mobility or operation of a body partresults from a functional or mechanical disturbance. A correction ofsuch faulty body mechanisms of this type may be effected throughindicated exercising of the body part or parts involved for securingadditional mobility thereof, thereby producing the desired relief frompain and restoration of the part to normal function. Innumerableabnormal condi'tions are amenable to such treatment, as, for instance,curvatures of the spinal cord, sciatica, arthritic conditions, musclespasms, neuritis: and neuralgia, slipped discs, etc. Within this fieldof therapy would also be included the treatment of conditions induced bynervous strain, tension, and stress, wherein uncomfortable localsymptoms are caused, such as predominantly, with migraine headaches.Heretofore, the provision of the appropriate exercise for the afflictedbody parts have been for the most part accomplished by subjecting thepatient to a routine of exercise of the calisthenic nature or manualmanipulation by a skilled and highly trained therapist. In addition tothe foregoing, some use had been made of static traction for treatmentof certain conditions, such as for effecting stretching of the spine.However, the exertion of a constant pull of predeterruined force uponthe body obviously is devoid of the beneficial dynamic type ofexercising so vital for restoration of the particular area to normalstate. It is apparent that through normal human inertia many patientswill not be consistent in following through with the exercisesprescribed and with professional 'manipulation it is evident that theforces of the manipulation may vary, such as through fatigue of thetherapist.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide aphysical therapy treatment table lHCOI'POIfli'. ing novel means foreffecting exercising of any bodily portion by the intermittentapplication of force thereto pursuant to a predetermined pattern. It isanother object of the present invention to provide a physical therapytreatment table having novel means for simultaneously effectingindicated rhythmic manipulation of the various portions of the humanbody and at varying rates.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a physicaltherapy treatment table incorporating mechanical means forsimultaneously effecting dynamic traction for suspension of differentportions of the human body and wherein the force of the traction maydifier from that of the suspension.

' It is an additional object of the present invention to provide aphysical therapy treatment table incorporatice ing automatic operablemeans for eifecting the exercis' ing of bodily parts which obviates thenecessity of the patient laboriously undertaking a routine of prescribedcalisthenic exercises and the need for manipulation of afflicted areasby, professional therapists, and wherein the patient is accorded maximumcomfort during such treatment.

It is .a further object of the present invention to provide a physicaltherapy treatment table of the character stated which comprises asimplicity of parts; is readily and easily adapted for effectingtreatment of any indicated portion of the body; which may be operated atpredetermined rates of speed so as to apply force to the body for thebeneficial periodicity; which table is reliable and durable in usage;and which may be economically produced.

These and other detailed objects are obtained by the structuresillustrated in the accompanying drawings (three sheets) in which---Figure 1 is a side elevation of a treatment table constructed inaccordance with and embodying the present invention, illustrating thesame in position for treating the cervical and lumbar portions of apatient by traction and suspension effectively.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

, Figure 3 is a vertical transverse View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure1.

1 Figure 4 is a head end View taken along the line 44 V of Figure 1.Figure 5 is a foot end view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the spring of a traction unit.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 7-7 ofFigure 6. v p

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the treatment table illustrating themeans associated therewithfor treating the abdominal portion of thehuman body. Referring now by reference characters to the drawings whichillustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, 1indicates a padded, rectangular treatment table supported at each of itscorners by legs 2 which preferably may be formed from light-weight,sturdy, tubular stock, and have integral brace portions 3 for enhancedstability of table 1. Provided on table is a superstructure comprising apair of U-shaped end supports 4, 5 located at the normally head and footend of table 1, respectively, each support 4,.5 having its legs 6, 6secured at their lower ends to the side faces of table 1 and with theirupper or central portions 7 in elevated, transverse, planar-parallelrelation to table 1. A brace member 8 is provided for rigidifying legs6, 6" of end supports 4, 5 in position with each brace member 8 be ingsecured at its upper end to the associated legs 6 or 6 at a point abovethe midpoint thereof and at their lower ends to sides of table 1spacedly from the points a securement upon said portion 7, as by meansof bolts 10, with one end of an overhead rod 11 extending be tween saidend support 4, 5, and disposed lengthwise'of; table 1. It will be seenthat by proper arrangement? overhead rod 11 may be secured in positionby bolts ex tending between corresponding, aligned openings in cen tralportion 7 of end members 4, 5 so that said rod 11 will be in axiallyparallel relation to table 1 but may be located to either side of theaxis of table 1 or in align-. ment therewith. Also said rod 11 may besecured so as: to extend in a generally diagonal or obliquefrnanner be-.tween saidcentral portions 7 of end supports 4,5, forpurposes presentlyappearing. Said overhead rod is:

Patented O ct., 6, 19 59.

' provided throughout its extent with a plurality of spaced apart,vertical openings 12 for selected disposition therealong, in a generallystraddling manner, of a pair of pulley supports 13, 13, each of whichswingably carries a clevi's member 14, 14 in the arms of which isjournaled the ends of a shaft for a pulley 15, 15", respectively. Acrosssaid pulley 15, 15' extends a belt 16, one end of which projectsdownwardly from pulley 15', for detachably carrying in its proximate endportion a spreader bar 17 having hooks or eyelets at its opposite endsfor engaging the clasps of a sling-type body-engaging met ber 18. Withreference to Figures 1 and 3 it will be seen that spreader bar 17 willbe disposed in a substantially transversely extending relationship totable 1, whereby member 18 will depend downwardly therefrom toward table1 for supportingly receiving body portion, such as the various spinalregions, as the lumbar or thoracic, as 7 shown in Figure l, or theabdominal area, as indicated in Figure 8 which will be discussedhereinbelow. Said member 18 is provided with a relatively widenedcentral section as at 19 being fabricated preferably of leather or otherdurable material with the inner or body confronting portion suitablypadded as at 29 for preventing unpleasant, frictional contact with thepatients skin. Outwa'rdly of pulley 15 belt 16 is led downwardly and ina direction endwise of table 1 for securement within a clamp 21 mountedon the forward end of an arm 22 the rearward end of which is secured asby bolts to the upper end portion of a rocker arm 23. Said rocker arm 23in its central portion is pivotally secured as at 2.4 to a bracket 25extending from the adjacent end of table 1 whereby said rocker arm 23 isadapted to swing in a vertical plane, axially normal to the plane, oftable 1." The lower end of rocker arm 23 is engaged to the outer end ofa Pitman 26, the inner or forward end of which is secured to a crankhead 27, carried on the end of a shaft 28 operably engaged by suitablegearing (to a motor 29) disposed beneath the head end portion of table1- being supported by a mounting assembly 30. It will thus be seen thatupon operation of motor 2? rocker arm 23 will be caused to bereciprocatingly swung about its pivot 24v so that its upper end portion,which extends above table 1 will be swung forwardly toward said table 1and then backwardly therefrom (as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1)and thus continue to swing back and forth during the operation of themotor. It is apparent thatv the frequency of the back and forth cyclewill determine upon the rate of speed of the motor so that by varyingthe speed of operation thereof to conventional means the rate of swingof rocker arm 23 may be easily controlled. It should be pointed out thatrocker arm 23 is aligned with the median of table 1 so that duringoperation no unbalanced stress-producing forces will be developed.

For convenience a lead 31 may be provided from motor 29 which lead willcarry an operating switch so that the patient may turn the motor on andoil at his pleasure. Upon operation of motor 29 with consequentreciprocal swinging movement of rocker arm 23 belt 16 will be pulledrearwardly as rocker arm 23 swings rearwardly and will be movedforwardly, during forward swinging of rocker arm 23 under thegravitational pull of the por- 7 tion of the patients body supported bymember 18. Ac-

cordingly, the system comprised of the continuously swinging rocker arm23 and the elevated belt 16 and body support member 18 permits arhythmic suspension to be accorded the portion of the body beingtreated. Thus, with reference to Figure 1,. it will be notedthat asrocker arm 23 is swung outwardly in its upper portion the thoracicspinal portion of the patient rereived in member 18 will be subjected toa .lifting force While the adjacent portions of the spine will remainsubstantially supported on table 1 so that a stretching of the spine,muscles, and the connecting tissue of the cervical and upper dorsal areawill be effected,

as well as producing a hyperextension of the dorsal spine. Therefore,the reciprocal suspending or lifting of the thoracic spinal portion andthe lowering of same will produce a mobilization to the area involvedand thereby effectively treat muscular, neuritic, or radicular painsresulting from muscular or facial tension, as well as any curvature ofthe upper spinal portion. In view of the foregoing it is readilyrecognized that by proper disposition of pulley supports 13 alongoverhead rod 11 body receiving member 18 may be disposed for receivingany portion of the body which would be amenable to treatment through therhythmic suspension provided by the present invention. Consequently, ifpulley supports 13 were placed more closely together member 18 would bepositioned for receiving the upper or cervical spine, or with saidpulley supports 13, 13' being moved commensurately away from each other,body receiving member 18 could be disposed for receiving the lumbarspinal portion or any portion of the patients legs or pelvic region,with the patient remaining upon his back on table 1. The reciprocalelevating and lowering of portions of the body in the manner describedwill thus provide the exercise indicated for a specific region of thebody to produce the desired mobilization. Thus, only that area of thebody which is involved is exercised while the other portions of the bodyremain substantially at rest, thereby assuring that maximum beneficialexercise is attained. The stretching and relaxing of the muscles,connecting tissue, ligaments, and bony articulations of the bodyportions being treated is reliably presented by the machine of thepresent invention so that functional and mechanical disturbances areeffectively alleviated.

With reference to Figure 8, the extreme versatility of the treatmenttable is illustrated for therein is shown the use the suspension systemfor-treating portions of the human body when the patient is disposed ina face downward position upon table 1. In this instance the patient ispresented with his head toward the foot end of table 1 and pulleysupports 13, 13 are spaced apart along overhead rod 11 so that member 18is engaged under the abdomen of the patient; it being noted that member13' is located at a point upon overhead rod 11 so as to be nearer theproximate end of table 1 than the patients abdomen so that the elevatingoperation will also comprise a forward component to effect upwardrhythmic excursions of the abdominal viscera and diaphragm withintermittent compression of the abdominal muscles. It has been foundthat in addition to the suspension operation many conditions necessitatea rotative movement be caused the body area involved. To provide thistype of exercise, overhead 11 may be disposed to either one side or theother of table I, or obliquely, so that the belt system will becommensurately presented in eccentric relationship to the patientwhereby the engaged portion of the body will be subjected to ahorizontal rocking or rotative movement simultaneously with thealternating elevating and lowering effected by operation of rocker arm23.

With reference to Figures 1 and 8 it will be seen that rocker arm 23 inits upper portion is provided with a series of vertically spacedopenings so that arm 22 may be positioned at any convenient pointtherealong for eflecting the desired pull upon belt 16 for theparticular treatment in question. It will be seen that from clamp 21belt 16 is led downwardly and permitted to rest upon any convenientsurface such as the floor, with the length thereof being adequate foraccommodating the distance between pulley supports 13, 15' in theirvarious posi tions of adjustment.

Swingably secured in the upper portion of rocker arm 23 is the outer endof an adjustable pressure arm 32 which comprises a housing 32 withinwhich is disposed a compression spring 33 one end of which bears againstthe inner or table-adjacent end wall of said housing 32, while the otherend bears against a head 34 engaged to an end of a piston-forming rod35; said rod 35 extends longitudinally through spring 33 and projectsthrough an opening 36 in the said inner end wall; with a hook 37 beingformed at the projecting end extremity for engagement to a spreader bar38, supporting at its ends a body engaging member, which, for instance,may be preferably a two-piece head halter, as shown in Figure 1 at 39. Ascale 40 is suitably inscribed or otherwise provided on the exterior ofhousing 32' and a marker or index finger 41 is carried upon head 34,projecting through an elongated, slot 42 formed in the wall of housing42. The body engaging member 39 may be' contoured for comfortable yetreliable and firm engagement of the body part being treated for thepurpose of effecting rhythmic traction thereon. The head halterpresented as an example of such body receiving member is speciallycontoured for eliminating painful pressure on the chin or occiput and isheavily padded so as to provide maximum comfort. Upon the rocking of arm23 into outward position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, apulling force will be effected upon the-part being treated with theforce being relaxed as rocker arm 23 moves inwardly so that intermittentpulling and relaxing effect will be developed resulting in a rhythmictraction having a periodicity determined by the rate of operation ofmotor 29. With the head and chin of the patient so engaged operation ofthe present invention will produce a stretching and relaxing of thecervical spine as well as the longitudinal exercising of the cervicalmusculature with a gentle breaking of the compression fixations thereofand normalizing the stretch function of the muscles involved. Also, suchtraction will produce a local stretching of ligaments and fascia. Thismobilization accorded this portion of the body has proved mostbeneficial in the treatment of migraine and tension type headaches,cervico-occipital neuralgia, distortions and curvature of the upperspine, brachial neuritis, and numerous other conditions. The particularforce of the traction is also controlled by a selected tension placedupon spring 33 so that as the patient progresses in the treatmentincreasingly greater stress may be applied to spring 33. To preventundesired longitudinal, bodily movement of the patient consequent to thepulling component of the traction operation there is provided acounter-traction unit indicated generally at 43 and comprises a belt 44engageable at one end to a waist-encircling strap 45 and at its otherend to a clamp 46 disposed at the outer end of an arm 47 secured to theadjacent, foot end of table 1 and extending outwardly therefrom. Inusage, strap 45 is secured snugly about the patient, preferably at thewaist, and the outer end of belt 44 is gripped in clamp 46 so as toanchor the patients body and hence resist any tendency of the body to bepulled in the opposite direction under the applied traction. Althoughthe drawings illustrate the traction unit for operation primarily uponthe cervical spine, it is to be recognized that various types of bodyengaging members may be provided for engagement to arm 47 so that therhythmic traction may be accorded other bodily areas. For instance, abody encircling member may be disposed about the area to be treated suchas the pelvic zone, or the thoracic spine, with connecting strap membersengaging the same at spaced points to the opposite ends of spreader bar38, with the patient being suitably anchored by the counter-tractionunit 43 so that the reciprocal pulling and relaxing will be applied tothe portions requiring treatment. Thus, it will be seen that the presentinvention will produce, what might be termed, dynamic traction, asdistinguished from the static traction heretofore utilized, wherein aconstant pull was effected by the use of weights. By the traction of thepresent invention a mobilization is produced which will restore thetreated areas to normal functioning.

By use of the physical therapy treatment table above described anyportion of the body may be suitably treated 6 in a manner diagnosticallyindicated so that if the' af= flicted zone requires exercising of onetype or the other it may be readily accorded such. Thus, if alternatingsuspension and lowering will provide exercise for the afflicted bodyportion, then the said suspension system may be brought into activeoperation. On the other hand, if dynamic traction is indicated, then thepatient may be readily subjected to that by the necessary engagement tothe related system. However, it is readily seen that if both tractionand suspension is called for, then the patient may be simultaneouslyprovided both types of treatment. As brought out hereinabove, the rateof exercise to either suspension or traction, may of course bedetermined by the speed of motor 29 and the related gearing so that itis within the scope of the operation of the present invention-to permita course of exercises wherein the rate of movement may be increased asthe course of treatment progresses. 1

Furthermore, it should be particularly noted that through the uniquemechanical means provided, the periodicity of the traction or suspensionprovided bythe present invention will be constant and thereby assureproper beneficial manipulation of the disturbed or malfunctioning partsof the patient. It will be recognized that during treatment a patientneed only lie upon table 1 and while in such passive state will receivethe exercising needed and thereby be obviated the necessity ofundertaking a routine of rigorous calisthenics which generally entailexercising of other portions of the body than those requiring attention.

The constituent elements of the present invention are relatively simpleso that the systems of operation provided will be reliable and durableduring usage. Further, the controls will be readily convenient to thepatient so that at the termination of the treatment period the motor 29may be disconnected so that a skilled therapist might devote attentionto numerous patients concurrently rather than remain in constantattendance upon a single patient during the particular treatment.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thephysical therapy treatment table may be made and substituted for theseherein shown and described without departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. Physical therapy treatment apparatus comprising asurface for support of a patient thereon, a rocker arm provided adjacentone end of said surface and disposed for movement in a vertical plane,means for effecting continuous rocking of said rocker arm, a firstmember for engaging a portion of the patients body connected to theupper portion of said rocker arm whereby an alternating pulling andrelaxing will be accorded the-portion of the patients body engaged bysaid first member, a support structure provided above said surface, asecond member for engaging a portion of the patients body suspended fromsaid support structure, means connecting said second member to the upperportion of said rocker arm whereby upon operation of the latter analternating lifting and lowering will be effected upon the engaged bodyportion so that simultaneous ryhthmic traction and suspension will beproduced.

2. Physical therapy treatment apparatus comprising a horizontal surfacefor supporting of a patient thereon, a rocker arm provided at one end ofsaid surface and disposed for movement in a vertical plane normal tothat of the horizontal surface, means for effecting continuous rockingof said rocker arm, a first member for engaging a portion of thepatients body connected to said rocker arm whereby an intermittentpulling, in a direction longitudinally of the surface, will be effectedupon the portion of the patients body engaged by said-first member, a

support structure provided above said surface, a second member forengaging a portion of the patients body suspended from said supportstructure, means connecting said second member and said rocker armwhereby upon operation of the latter an alternating lifting and loweringwill be effected upon the engaged body portion so that simultaneousrhythmic traction and suspension will be produced, and anchoring meansfor resisting travel of the patient during traction and suspension tocause mobilization to be provided only the engaged body portions.

3. Physical therapy treatment, apparatus comprising a table forsupporting a patient, support structure provided above said table,spaced apart pulleys depending from said support structure fordisposition above the patient and in alignment lengthwise thereof, abelt trained over said pulleys, a member for engagement by a portion ofthe patients body depending from one end of said belt toward said table,a rocker arm provided at one end of said table, an arm adjustablypositionable on the upper portion of said rocker arm, clamping meanscarried on said arm for engaging said belt at a preselected pointthereon, means for effecting continuous reciprocal swinging of saidrocker arm, said rocker arm being presented for swinging in a verticalplane whereby said belt will be intermittently pulled by said arm andsaid rocker 'arm for veifecting an alternate raising and lowering of thebody portion engaging member to cause beneficial mobilization thereof,and means whereby the spacing between said pulleys may be selected fordisposing said body portion engaging member for convenient engagement ofany body portion of the patient.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,830,581 Sanders Apr. 15, 1958

